Sen. Cornyn to Offer Keynote Remarks at Ports Conference March 21

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the annual conference of the American Association of Port Authorities on March 21.

The group recognized the Republican senator from Texas as their “Port Person of the Year.”

“This year’s spring conference is going to be extraordinary, with key business, port and government officials, along with top subject matter experts, delving into issues that are making national and international news,” AAPA president Kurt Nagle said in a statement. The conference will be held March 20-21 in Washington. “We’re particularly pleased to have Sen. Cornyn join us for this year’s event to recognize his leadership, and support for, public ports.”

Other speakers at the conference will include Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), chairman of the Water Resources and Environment subcommittee; Richard Balzano, Deputy Maritime Administrator at the Maritime Administration; Ed Mortimer, executive director of transportation infrastructure at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Bill Sullivan, senior vice president of advocacy at American Trucking Associations; and Sean Strawbridge, CEO of Port Corpus Christi.

AAPA recently called for more funding for ports. The organization noted a recent round of federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery infrastructure grants included five port-related projects out of 41 recipients.

“While we’re pleased there were at least a few port-related projects included in the ninth round of TIGER grants just announced,” Nagle said, “We’re disappointed there weren’t more.”